First impressions are key. Here’s how to wow potential buyers.
You’d never dream of inviting guests to your house without making certain preparations, right? So don’t invite potential buyers in without first making necessary updates. If you’re most sellers, you want to maximize the transaction and net the most money possible in the shortest time. Here are the steps you must take to achieve that end:
1. Letting go. This may sound oddly deep, but it’s important. After you’ve lived in a house for a long time, it becomes much more than just four walls and a ceiling; it’s a true home, and it most likely holds a lot of great memories for you and your family. The first step to preparing for a sale is to realize that you get to take these awesome memories with you. If you can start thinking about the process as a new beginning rather than an end, the following steps will be much easier.
2. Staging the home. The name of the game is creating an environment that is free of any distracting personal items such as family photos, religious/ideological symbols, etc. When a potential buyer walks through your home, they need to be able to envision themselves living in that space. Your effects are special to you, but understand that their removal is not to be taken as a knock against you or your taste—it just helps other people imagine their own unique style thriving in the home.
3. Removing clutter. When your home is clean and free of clutter, it will seem significantly larger and more inviting. Pack up all the knick-knacks, remove the kids’ drawings from the fridge, and clean up the counters in the kitchen and bathrooms— the two areas that will serve as the main selling points of your home.
“You’d be surprised how many people pay attention to even the tiniest of details.”
4. Making the features shine. Your living room should have one focal point, whether it’s a cozy fireplace or a breathtaking view of the outside. If there are too many features in one room competing for buyers’ attention, the effect can be negative. Focus on just one area and make it shine.
A home with a stunning view should have window dressings that accent the positive instead of hiding it. If your furniture has a strong design of any kind, mask it with a solid slipcover that better complements the flooring or wall color. Some homeowners may have to add a fresh coat of paint to their walls to bring life back into a space.
Now that you know the importance of clearing out the clutter and getting rid of distracting items and furniture, you may ask yourself: Where do I put all of this stuff? Well, if you already have a new home, you can simply store it all there. Otherwise, you’ll want to put it away in storage. It’s important to leave some furniture, though; dining room tables, couches, and a few chairs can help buyers visualize the space as a home. Anything else that crams the space or disrupts the flow should be removed.
Lastly, make sure that you have any carpet stains removed, your windows are clean, and fresh linens are placed in the bedrooms and bathrooms. You’d be surprised how many people pay attention to even the tiniest of details, so be sure to fix any small repairs that could be a turn off for potential buyers. Don’t neglect the home’s exterior, either. This means that your lawn should be well-maintained—fresh mulch in the flowerbeds, clean gutters, and trimmed shrubs.
If you have questions about this or any other real estate topic, please feel free to reach out via phone or email. I’m here to be a resource for you and would love to hear more about your situation.
